Abandoned Luna Now Untouchable (Cecilia) novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223: Chapter 223 Beneath the Silence

Cecilia’s pov

The house settled into that peculiar quiet that comes with early evening--the brief pause between day and night.

Tang nearly bounced on his heels as he nudged me toward the stairs.

"Go on. Call the Alpha down. Mrs. Linda pulled out all the stops tonight."

I recognized his little game immediately.

Ever since the incident with Amara, he’d been trying to redeem himself through these "helpful" nudges that just happened to throw Sebastian and me together.

"Fine," I sighed, setting down my book. "I’ll go find him."

Truthfully, I didn’t mind. It was my job, after all--keeping Sebastian on schedule, making sure he remembered basic human functions like eating. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Along the way, I could grab Sawyer too.

Upstairs, I knocked on the door to Sebastian’s study. No answer.

I was about to knock again when the bedroom door swung open and Sebastian emerged, dressed in fresh clothes--dark slacks and a charcoal button-down that looked tailored within an inch of its life. Definitely not loungewear.

"Alpha, will you be joining us for dinner?" I asked, keeping my voice carefully neutral.

He adjusted his cuff with practiced ease. "Not tonight. I have a meeting."

A brief pause. "Don’t wait up."

"Of course." I stepped aside automatically, making room in the hallway.

Sebastian paused, his eyes lingering on my face a moment longer than necessary.

Something in his expression softened.

"Get some rest tonight," he said, his voice low, almost like a secret."The weather here shifts quickly. Take care of yourself."

Then he was gone, moving like a shadow that forgot to make a sound.

I didn’t move. Just stood there, caught in the hush he left behind.

Barely a dozen words--yet something had shifted.Since our talk on the plane, even the quiet carried weight.

"Cecilia."The sound of my name snapped me out of it.

I turned to find Sawyer watching me, his eyes steady, a little too knowing.

"Dinner’s ready," I said, recovering with a smile.

He glanced toward the stairs."Old friend called, heard Alpha was in London. Pretty last-minute."

"I know. He mentioned it," I said, face carefully blank.

Something like relief crossed Sawyer’s features. "Good. That’s good. Well, shall we? Mrs. Linda’s cooking is worth experiencing. You should eat while it’s hot."

"Yeah... sure." I followed him, though part of me was still upstairs.

Dinner was lavish by any standard--roasted duck with orange glaze, potatoes that melted like butter, and vegetables I couldn’t even name.

Sawyer and I barely made a dent in our plates, but Tang did his part--he was already on his third round before we’d finished our first.

After dinner, I felt restless.

The rain hadn’t stopped all day, and the house felt heavier with every hour that passed.

"I’m going for a walk," I announced.

Tang materialized beside me like he’d been summoned. "Great idea. I’ll grab my jacket."

"Tang," I sighed. "I’d like some time alone."

"Alpha’s orders," he shrugged, already zipping up his weatherproof. "You go out, I follow."

I bit back a retort. Some battles weren’t worth fighting.

"You’re right about one thing--he definitely sent me away on purpose. But don’t think that means you’ve won."

I exhaled slowly, suddenly tired.

"This isn’t a competition, Amara. There’s no prize--especially not him."

"I’m not interested in playing, so stop showing up like I’m your rival."

I hung up and blocked her number in one smooth motion.

--

Miles away, in a stone castle surrounded by ancient oaks, Amara sat alone in an opulent room, nursing her third glass of whiskey.

She stared at her phone, cursing when she realized Cecilia had blocked her. She was contemplating her next move when headlights swept across her window--a black sedan winding up the long drive, bearing a nervous-looking woman whose hands trembled against the leather seat.

--

After Amara’s call, the weight in my chest crystallized into a cold, jagged knot.

I found a bench outside a quaint café, its windows glowing a warm amber against the deepening dusk.

I sat there, arms folded tightly across my chest, watching strangers hurry by with their collars turned up against the chill and their eyes fixed on some place more important than here.

Logically, I knew what Amara was doing. To plant doubt the way some people scatter wildflower seeds, hoping something invasive took root.

And yet...

I was good at pushing things aside, tucking thoughts into neat boxes.

But some boxes refused to stay shut.

After a few minutes, I stood and headed back. Each step heavier than the last.

At the door, I barely glanced at Tang before slipping past him and heading upstairs.